2008 Volkswagen R32 Owner Complaints

My vehicle started to develop a crank no start and intermittent stumble when idling at a light shortly after starting. I chalked it up to a possible fueling issue since I had lean codes. I replaced the fuel pump and filter with OE supplier parts. Within two months the crank no start situation returned. I began to research the concern and buried in a forum someone mentioned checking fuse 43 in the underhood fuse box. I went out to my car, removed the fuse and found that there was arcing on one of the legs and extending upwards into the fuse itself. I researched what the fuse is for on the VW service information page and it supplies power to the ignition coils. When I got home I removed the fuse box, opened it and found that the terminals for that fuse were slightly opened when compared to the rest of the box. I have not taken my car to any shop since as I was a certified VW tech and have the appropriate tools, education and training to work on my car. I have attached pictures of the fuse and the interior of the fusebox that shows the slight spread on the terminals. This thread covers what was happening to my car almost exactly, post 27 is where I learned about that fuse.

NHTSA ID

11580862

Incident

Mar 31, 2024

I EXITED FROM A DRIVEWAY AT A RITEAID TO GET TO THE LIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, I HAVE ABOUT 3/4 TANK OF GAS AND THE ODOMETER READS 175 MILES, WHEN I GET TO THE MY NEXT DESTINATION, A DRIVE THRU, THE FUEL MARKER STARTS DROPPING FAST AND SO DOES MY ODOMETER, IT GOES DOWN TO ABOVE 1/4 OF A TANK AND MY MILES READ 110 LEFT, IN A SPAN OF ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE DRIVE THRU EXCEPT WHEN MOVING

NHTSA ID

11340239

Incident

Jul 17, 2020

Mileage

112,856 mi

WHEN CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE MAY NOT REMAIN FULLY CLOSED. IF THIS HAPPENS, LIQUID FUEL MAY ENTER THE FUEL TANK VENTING SYSTEM AND MIGRATE INTO THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM, SATURATING THE CARBON CANISTER. SHOULD THIS OCCUR WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MAY EXPERIENCE PERFORMANCE ISSUES (I.E., VEHICLE JERKING) AND THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COULD ILLUMINATE. FUEL COULD LEAK FROM THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM LEAK DETECTION PUMP FILTER. CONSEQUENCE A FUEL LEAK, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11331195

Incident

Jun 27, 2020

Mileage

133,000 mi

RAW FUEL SPEWING FROM LEAK DETECTION PUMP (LDP) FILTER LOCATED UNDER PASSENGER SIDE FENDER WELL. CHARCOAL CANISTER, LDP, EVAP LINES, & N80 VALVE ALL CONTAMINATED BY RAW FUEL. FUEL ENTERING EVAP SYSTEM WHEN HIGH AMBIENT TEMPS ARE PRESENT. P026 RECALL WAS ALREADY PERFORMED (IN 2012) BUT ISSUE HAS COME BACK. CONTACTED VWOA THEY SAID IT'S BEYOND THE RECALL'S 1 YEAR 12,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE ISSUE. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD THAT COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH. BECAUSE VW KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. VEHICLE WAS DRIVING IN NORMAL CITY TRAFFIC WHEN I SMELLED RAW FUEL. PULLED OVER TO SEE FUEL SPILLING OUT OF REAR PASSENGER FENDER WELL.

NHTSA ID

11221713

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

117,000 mi

SUSPECT CLOCK SPRING FAILED. AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. LOST ALL FUNCTIONS TO STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS. VW WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

11186590

Incident

Jun 19, 2013

Mileage

36,000 mi

ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THIS OCCURRED ON BOTH HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS, BOTH WHILE IN MOTION AND WHILE BRAKING (DOWNSHIFTING). THE LEVER SELECTOR POSITION FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE "DEPRESS BRAKE" INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE REQUIRED SHIFTING TO PARK AND TURNING ENGINE ON/OFF (SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES) BEFORE BECOMING DRIVE-ABLE AGAIN. REPAIR FACILITY REPORTS TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE FAULT, AS DESCRIBED IN THE FOLLOWING RECALL FOR OTHER VOLKSWAGEN/AUDI VEHICLES WITH THE SAME DSG TRANSMISSION: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 09V333000 VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND AUGUST 2009. THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED. WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR WIRES, A TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FALSELY DETECT A HIGH GEARBOX OIL TEMPERATURE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO ABRUPTLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE SELECTOR LEVER POSITION INDICATOR WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FLASH. IN ADDITION, THE "DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL" INDICATOR LIGHT WILL BE ILLUMINATED, ALERTING THE DRIVER TO APPLY THE BRAKES. REPAIR FACILITY RECOMMENDS REMEDY OF REPLACING TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. SAFETY RISK CAUSED BY INABILITY TO ACCELERATE WHEN CAR SPONTANEOUSLY SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL AND DRIVER IS UNABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO SHOULDER/SAFE AREA AND/OR AVOID OTHER VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

11172854

Incident

Jan 28, 2019

Mileage

134,650 mi

VEHICLE FALSE NUETRALED ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A 18-WHEELER SOLENOID FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION. NO POWER ON VEHICLE UNTIL FIX. THIS COULD CAUSE AND PROBABLY HAS CAUSED DEATH OR INJURY

NHTSA ID

11021239

Incident

Aug 31, 2017

Mileage

43,000 mi

I AM EXPERIENCING THE WELL KNOWN SYMPTOMS OF A FAILING MECHATRONIC UNIT IN THE VOLKSWAGEN DSG GEARBOX. THERE WAS A RECALL FROM PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. SYMPTOMS ARE LURCHING/HARSH ENGAGEMENT WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. JERKY/ ALMOST BOUNCY REVERSING. HARSH/CLUNKY SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS. LOSS OF DRIVE OPERATION AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS IN MANY SITUATIONS. MY RECALL WAS COMPLETED THROUGH VOLKSWAGEN AT ROUGHLY 55,000 MILES. I STARTED TO NOTICE THE SYMPTOMS ARISE AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 103,000 MILES. THIS IS LITERALLY JUST AFTER THE VW "EXTENDED" WARRANTY ON THE DSG GEARBOX AND REPLACED MECHATRONICS UNIT EXPIRED. (10 YEAR/100,000 MILES) I FIND IT VERY ODD THAT THE FIRST MECHATRONICS UNIT LASTED JUST 50,000 MILES AND IT SEEMS AS IF THE 2ND HAS FAILED IN NEARLY THE EXACT SAME TIME FRAME. I HAVE CONTACTED VWOA AND THEY REFUSED ANY KIND OF GOODWILL OR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE REGARDING THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10855267

Incident

Mar 15, 2016

Mileage

103,000 mi

DSG TRANSMISSION FAILED @ 57,000 MILES

NHTSA ID

10839056

Incident

Feb 26, 2016

Mileage

57,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MECHATRONIC UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10732950

Incident

Jul 9, 2014

VW R32 HID HEADLIGHT SYSTEM BURNS OUT BULBS AND SMELLS LIKE BURNT WIRES. THE BULB IGNITER WIRES INSIDE THE LIGHT HOUSING HAVE THE INSULATION FALLING OFF LEAVING THE WIRES EXPOSED AND TOUCHING EACH OTHER. I ATTEMPTED TO INSULATE BARE WIRES, BUT THEY STILL KEEP DETERIORATING FARTHER DOWN THE WIRE. THERE ARE 3 WIRES THAT RUN TO THE BULB IGNITER SOCKET THAT CONNECTS TO THE BULB. I FEEL THIS INSULATION HAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. OTHER ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE HOUSING ARE STILL FINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10618307

Incident

Feb 5, 2014

Mileage

85,000 mi

BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. HEADLIGHT WIRING IS DETERIORATED. WIRE INSULATION IS BRITTLE, CRACKED AND SEPARATED, LEAVING THE WIRING EXPOSED CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES, BULB AND BALLAST FAILURE. LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER PERFORMED DIAGNOSES DURING THE 60000 MILE MAINTENANCE UPON MY REQUEST. "FOUND INTERNAL HEADLIGHT WIRE HARNESSES IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS COMING APART (DETERIORATED), ESTIMATE TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS ASSEMBLIES AND REPROGRAM LIGHTING SYSTEM $1,517.00. MAY ALSO NEED BULBS ($168.00 EACH PLUS TAX) AND ALSO MAY NEED IGNITERS ($272.08 EACH PLUS TAX) TECH CAN NOT MAKE THE DETERMINATION UNTIL HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED." *TR

NHTSA ID

10564602

Incident

Feb 4, 2014

Mileage

63,740 mi

DSG TRANSMISSION LAGS IN APPLYING THE CLUTCH AND WILL SOMETIMES APPLY THE CLUTCH EXTREMELY HARSH AFTER A SECOND OF LAGGING. IF THE CAR IS ON A HILL IT WILL FALL BACK A FEW FEET BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES IN AN EXTREMELY HARSH MANNER. IF I'M AT A STOP AND ACCELERATE IS WILL NOT DO SO FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND AND THEN JERK FORWARD ABRUPTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536667

Incident

Aug 22, 2013

Mileage

80,000 mi

SHIFTS VERY HARD AT SLOW SPEEDS. GOING INTO REVERSE SOMETIMES HESTATES FOR A COUPLE SECONDS. SARTING FROM A STOP WILL NOT GO FOR A SECOND OR 2. *TR

NHTSA ID

10532022

Incident

Mar 8, 2013

Mileage

44,521 mi

EXTREME HARSH SHIFTING UP FROM FIRST TO SECOND DURING ACCELERATION. ALSO EXPERIENCE HARSH SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO FIRST AND THEN INTO REVERSE. MOST COMMON OCCURRENCE IS DURING SLOW SPEEDS IN PARKING LOTS AND COMING TO AND FROM COMPLETE STOPS. THE ISSUES FEELS TO BE COMING DIRECTLY FROM SHIFTING AND CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509546

Incident

Feb 1, 2013

Mileage

54,000 mi

SUDDENLY STARTED HEARING LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE THEN IT STOPPED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. I PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD SHATTERED. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THE TENSIONER BEARING FAILED AND THAT CAUSED THE SERPENTINE BELT TO FAIL. THEY ARE QUOTING $760 TO REPAIR (PARTS AND LABOR). 1000 MILES PRIOR I DID THE 40K SERVICE WHICH INCLUDED TENSIONER AND BELT ADJUSTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10496650

Incident

Feb 6, 2013

Mileage

43,600 mi

2008 VOLKSWAGEN R 32 IS HAVING ISSUES WITH DSG TRANSMISSION OPERATION VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY ROUGH SHIFTING INTO FIRST FROM NEUTRAL AND ENGAGING INTO REVERSE FROM A STOP. VEHICLE ALSO SHIFT EXTREMELY ROUGH IN SPORT MODE. THE CAR JERKS INTO AND OUT OF EACH GEAR AT ANY SPEED. BEEN TO VW 3 TIMES AND COMPLAINED! THEY SAID THAT'S NORMAL. I LOOK IT UP AND WENT BACK AND TOLD THE SERVICE REP. WHY DIDN'T HE KNOW OUR TOLD ME ABOUT THE RECALL. HE SAID THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW! HE HAS BEEN A SERVICE REP FOR OVER 10 YEARS?? FINALLY THE SAID THAT THE GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM! NOT A NEW TRANSMISSION. BUT ITS RECOMMENDED... *TR

NHTSA ID

10490249

Incident

Dec 21, 2012

Mileage

60,129 mi

THE CAR HAS VERY ROUGH SLOW SPEED LURCHING AND JERKING WHEN MOVING IN REVERSE AND ALSO IN SLOW FORWARD. ITS WORSE ON COLD START MOVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10453788

Incident

Mar 20, 2012

Mileage

32,000 mi

HESITATING AND JERKING FROM TRANSMISSION WHEN IN REVERSE OR DRIVE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. *LN

NHTSA ID

10381061

Incident

Feb 7, 2011

Mileage

29 mi

MY CAR BEGIN MAKING A LOW WHISTLE NOISE A WEEK AGO WHENEVER I ACCELERATED FROM STAND STILL AND A WEEK LATER IT BEGIN SKIPPING GEARS AND THEN THE CAR BECAME INOPERABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10370945

Incident

Dec 15, 2010

Mileage

63,000 mi

FRONT RIGHT LIGHT BULB WENT OUT, WENT TO DEALER, THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, REPLACED BULB $256.00. 1 WEEK LATER THE BULB GOES OUT AGAIN AND THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT WATER LEAKED INTO THE CONTROL UNIT AND THAT THE UNIT COSTING $600.00 HAS TO BE REPLACED OTHERWISE THE LIGHT WILL KEEP GOING OUT. THEY ALSO TELL ME THAT THE SEAL AROUND THE HEADLIGHT UNIT WILL BE LEAKING WATER SOON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10370635

Incident

Dec 14, 2010

Mileage

63,000 mi

LOSS OF POWER WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN A FEW TIMES. FORTUNATELY, IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN A SITUATION WHERE A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. MY VW SERVICE ADVISER TOLD ME A RECALL FOR THE DSG TRANSMISSION IS IMMINENT. THAT WAS IN AUGUST. SO FAR, I'VE HEARD NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10368233

Incident

Oct 14, 2010

Mileage

17,556 mi

WHEN MY VW 2008 R32 IS IN 2ND GEAR IN THE PARKING LOT IT IS NOT SMOOTH. IT JERKS AND LURCHES LIKE I'M PUMPING THE GAS. ALSO DURING VARYING TIMES, MY CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE SMOOTHY. IT LAGS AND FEELS LIKE ITS SLIPPING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10356274

Incident

Sep 17, 2010

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE METHAPROMIC UNIT WAS REPLACED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35000.

NHTSA ID

10348560

Incident

May 14, 2009

Mileage

25,000 mi

2008 VOLKSWAGEN R 32 IS HAVING ISSUES WITH DSG TRANSMISSION OPERATION VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY ROUGH SHIFTING INTO FIRST FROM NEUTRAL AND ENGAGING INTO REVERSE FROM A STOP. VEHICLE ALSO SHIFT EXTREMELY ROUGH IN SPORT MODE. THE CAR JERKS INTO AND OUT OF EACH GEAR AT ANY SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10348502

Incident

Aug 8, 2010

Mileage

39,000 mi